By the Grace of G-d 6th of Teves, 5737 Brooklyn, N.Y.

Greeting and Blessing:

Your letter reached me with considerable delay, and may G-d grant the fulfillment of your heart’s desires for good.

With regard to the problem of overeating, etc., which you mention in your letter, it is well to remember the first directive of the Shulchan Aruch, with all its four parts, each of which contains many sections and paragraphs. Thus, the very first paragraph contains the rule that upon waking up in the morning a Jew should remember the words which King David expressed in behalf of all Jews in his holy book of Tehillim: “I place G-d before me always.” The explanation follows that a person who finds himself in the presence of a human king behaves and speaks quite differently than when he is in the company of his family and friends. In other words, realizing that one is in the presence of the Supreme King of Kings, blessed be He, at all times, one must be very conscious of every movement and every word, etc., since no human being can hide his thoughts, words and deeds from G-d.

Needless to say, the Shulchan Aruch, being a Codex of Laws, does not engage in nice phrases and euphemisms for their own sake, but every word is chosen and significant and of practical importance. So also in regard to the above quotation from the Shulchan Aruch, which was freely translated. It calls for a few moments of reflection when getting up in the morning, and from time to time during the day, that one is always in the presence of G-d, and this is a very effective method of being able to control one’s daily behavior in every good way.

Incidentally, the above is also the answer to the matter of atzvus, which you mention in your letter. Such a feeling is often the result of thinking oneself unimportant, and therefore it is of no consequence how one acts or behaves, thus becoming apathetic and discouraged. But realizing that one is in the presence and company of the King of Kings, whom the King has honored and privileged with very important tasks, this emphasizes the importance of every individual. In your case, the emphasis is even greater, inasmuch as you have the ability and opportunity to influence many other persons directly, as well as indirectly by showing a living example, which also gives you a special zechus if you will realize all your potentials in this way.

With blessing,